This Joint Staff Advisory Note (JSAN) reviews the first Annual Progress Report (APR) on the Liberia Poverty Reduction Strategy (LPRS) prepared by the Government of Liberia. The LPRS covers the period April 2008 to June 2011. It was approved by the Government... Voir la suiteThis Joint Staff Advisory Note (JSAN) reviews the first Annual Progress Report (APR) on the Liberia Poverty Reduction Strategy (LPRS) prepared by the Government of Liberia. The LPRS covers the period April 2008 to June 2011. It was approved by the Government of Liberia and submitted to the International Development Association (IDA) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on July 8, 2008. The first annual progress report covered the period April 1, 2008 to March 31, 2009 and was submitted to IDA and the IMF on March 24, 2010. The LPRS is set in a medium-term macroeconomic and growth framework with policy objectives grouped under four pillars: (i) consolidating peace and security; (ii) revitalizing the economy; (iii) strengthening governance and the rule of law; and (iv) rehabilitating infrastructure and delivering basic services. The LPRS also considers cross-cutting issues of gender equity, peace building and conflict sensitivity, environment, HIV/AIDS, and children and youth. The LPRS acknowledges significant capacity constraints in ministries and agencies and the need to prioritize capacity building in government agencies to ensure that key objectives are achieved over the three-year implementation period. The APR employs a monitoring and evaluation (M&E) framework that consolidates data collected by ministries, county level development offices, and development partners. However, the mechanisms for comprehensive and reliable M&E specifically for county level interventions remain weak. The implementation status of all capacity building, policy development and project based deliverables is comprehensively covered in the APR. Key policy challenges remain. These include: (i) maintaining macroeconomic stability; (ii) catalyzing external financing with high-quality investment plans and strengthened public financial management; (iii) further development of the financial sector to support private saving and investment; (iv) building capacity in government ministries and agencies to improve implementation; and (v) improved policy coordination and donor coordination.
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